Newark residents and farmers are shocked by plans to build a 7,000-acre solar park on productive farmland, the Daily Mail reports.
Parish councillors say they are “appalled” by the proposal. They believe the “monstrous” project will destroy the rural landscape and jeopardise food security.
Elements Green, a solar panel and energy storage developer, owns the solar park on Great North Road (GNR), whose proposal is at the earliest stage. It is expected to be one of the largest solar parks in Europe.
Robert Jenrick, a local Tory MP and former minister said the plan could affect “generations to come”. In a letter to constituents, obtained by The Mail, he vowed:
“Unless the proposals are radically changed, I will be doing everything I can to oppose this application.”
Elements Green said it has had very positive early engagement with residents and farmers. The idea that solar farms pose a threat to food security is a “myth”, the company said. It insists that the farm will contribute to the development of wetlands and create local jobs. The project aims to generate about one gigawatt of solar energy, enough to power about 400,000 homes.
But local resident Mike Pickering, 78, fears his home will be nearly surrounded by 200 acres of solar panels, based on initial maps published by the company. He said:
It is making us feel quite insecure as pensioners.
In response, Elements Green said the maps had been drawn so that the panels would heavily obscure properties, so this option was unlikely. Nigel Catt of North Muskham, who runs the glamping site, is concerned that the solar panels will repel visitors. He said:
“If views are obstructed by panels, people won’t want to come to this area. That is going to be a big, big issue for us if it goes ahead.”
1.5 million solar panels will be installed on 4,000 acres will be installed, although Elements Green says that number is likely to be reduced before the planned 2027 construction. The remaining 3,000 acres will have underground cabling and “biodiversity enhancement”, including the planting of 50,000 trees. Mark Noon, GNR project director, said:
“The scheme has potential to contribute 1.5 per cent of the Government’s 2035 solar PV target.”
Penny McQuilkin of Norwell Parish Council noted:
“It is the sheer scale of this monstrous 7,000-acre proposal that left us completely shell-shocked.”
According to Elements Green, while the solar farm could be as large as 7,000 acres, it will be made up of “little islands” that have been carefully designed, rather than one big chunk.
